FPC connector with built-in lock

Abstract

An FPC connector ( 100 ) includes an insulative housing ( 1 ) which has a bottom wall ( 10 ) and a pair of end walls ( 12 ) thereby forming a mating room ( 15 ) with a mating opening ( 14 ) located at a front face thereof, a plurality of terminals ( 2 ) disposed within the housing and having a contacting portion ( 210 ) extending into the mating room and at least one positioning portion ( 18 ) substantially located at a corner of the mating opening ( 14 ) and partially located upon the bottom wall ( 10 ) with a cantilever-shaped configuration.

1. An FPC connector, comprising:
 an insulative housing comprising a bottom wall and a pair of end walls thereby forming a mating room with a mating opening located at a front face thereof; 
 a plurality of terminals disposed within the housing and comprising a contacting portion extending into the mating room; 
 wherein the insulative housing comprises at least one an L-shaped positioning portion substantially located at a corner of the mating opening, the positioning portion is unitarily connecting with the bottom wall and end walls and is distant from the bottom wall; 
 wherein the insulative housing comprises a positioning recess formed between the positioning portion and the bottom wall and opened to the mating room because of the distance between the positioning portion and the bottom wall; and 
 wherein the positioning portion comprises a first positioning section protruding from the insulative housing and a second positioning section protruding from the bottom wall or the end wall and integrally connecting with a front side of the first positioning section. 
 
     
     
       2. The FPC connector as described in  claim 1 , wherein the first positioning section and the second positioning section are both located at the corner formed by the bottom wall and the end wall. 
     
     
       3. The FPC connector as described in  claim 2 , wherein the first positioning section and the second positioning section form an L-shaped configuration. 
     
     
       4. The FPC connector as described in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall comprises a plurality of terminal slots for receiving a lower arm of the terminal therein. 
     
     
       5. The FPC connector as described in  claim 4 , wherein the terminal comprises an upper arm opposite to the lower arm and moveably disposed in the top wall of the insulative housing. 
     
     
       6. The FPC connector as described in  claim 5 , wherein the upper arm and the lower arm of the terminal both defines a contacting portion protruding into the mating room. 
     
     
       7. An FPC connector, comprising:
 an insulative housing defining a receiving space with an opening located at a front face thereof, the receiving space having a floor flushed to the opening having a width; 
 a plurality of contact terminals disposed within the housing and having a contact engaging portion extending the receiving space; and 
 anti disengagement arrangement extending above the floor from a position adjacent to the opening and narrowing the opening, the anti disengagement arrangement and the floor are separate by a positioning recess which is used for receiving an FPC; 
 wherein the anti-disengagement arrangement includes a projection extending substantially parallel to the floor of the receiving space. 
 
     
     
       8. The FPC connector as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the receiving space includes a ceiling with upper passageways defined therein and the contact engaging portions are moveably disposed therein. 
     
     
       9. The FPC connector as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the floor comprises a plurality of lower passageways corresponding to the upper passageways and with contact retaining portion disposed therein. 
     
     
       10. An FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) connector for mating with an FPC, comprising:
 an insulative housing having a plurality of side walls commonly defining therein a receiving cavity communicating with an exterior through a front opening formed in front face of the housing, said front opening defining an elongated shape for allowing extension of the FPC, one of said side walls defining a cutout around the front face of the housing for allowing movement of said FPC during mating; 
 a plurality of contacts disposed in the housing with contacting section extending into the receiving cavity; 
 at least one positioning portion extending inwardly into the receiving cavity from the front face of the housing adjacent to one elongated end of said elongated shape for abutting a step structure formed on the side edge of the FPC so as to hold the FPC in position without withdrawal from the receiving cavity; wherein 
 said positioning portion is unitarily formed with the housing and essentially in an immoveable manner; wherein 
 said positioning portion restricts movement of the FPC in both a front-to-back direction and a vertical direction; and wherein 
 said positioning portion comprises an inward and rearward projection for abutting against an upper side of the FPC to restrict movement of the FPC in the vertical direction. 
 
     
     
       11. The FPC connector as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said one of said side walls where the cutout is formed, is a top side wall of the housing.